Arisawa Yuga

Arisawa Yuga is a distinguished origami artist and handmade washi craftsman born in Hokkaido in 1997. He won a national contest organized by the Japan Origami Academic Society in 2018.

His journey began in kindergarten when he discovered origami through television. By elementary school, he was inspired by Kamiya Satoshi, a master of “super complex” origami. In his first year of junior high school, he created his first original work: a stag beetle folded from a single sheet of paper.

Arisawa’s philosophy centers on folding from a single sheet without any cuts. As his techniques grew more complex, conventional paper frequently tore. This sparked his interest in traditional Japanese washi paper, known for its suppleness and strength.

During high school, he visited ten studios across Japan’s four major washi-producing regions. Upon graduation, he apprenticed at Corsoyard in Mino City, Gifu Prefecture. He has now been crafting handmade washi for seven years and currently oversees the entire workshop.

As a papermaker, Arisawa uses traditional Edo period methods with 100% natural fibers and no chemical additives. He developed “FO-01”, specialized origami paper mixing paper mulberry and gampi fibers for complex folding work.

Beyond traditional origami, he has designed pleated skirts for fashion brands, developed foldable leather products, and collaborated with Bandai to create gacha toys. His commercial work includes folding the Spirit of Ecstasy ornament for a Rolls-Royce exhibition.

Arisawa continues pushing boundaries through instructional books and inspiring new generations. He views himself as part of a continuous tradition, inheriting techniques while creating innovations for future artists.